THE BETTER SACRIFICE
Hebrews 9:19-24 NKJV
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you." 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
The Book of Hebrews is not light reading. The author, who some historians believe is Paul, has extensive knowledge of the law of Moses. In this chapter, the author is speaking to the difference in the two covenants. I mentioned yesterday that a covenant is a very solemn binding agreement. There was the covenant that God established with the nation of Israel through Moses and the covenant that God established with all mankind through Jesus. The covenant we have through Jesus is broader in scope and better in every way.
In our verses for today, the subject is the way a covenant was ratified. The old covenant through Moses was sealed with blood. The blood of calves and goats was sprinkled on the book, the people, the tabernacle, and the utensils used for ministry. This was the blood of the covenant, the agreement that God had with His people. This was pointing to what would happen with Jesus. According to the law, most everything was cleansed with blood. And where there was no blood, there was no forgiveness. That sounds quite different to our ears, that all things are cleansed with blood. Blood represents life, and God was pointing to a day when the blood of His son would be poured out.
All of the tent and the articles of the earthly tabernacle were copies of the things in heaven, which is a really cool thought. And for the copies, the blood of calves and goats was sufficient. But the true tabernacle in heaven was higher and better and needed a better sacrifice. And just as the high priest on earth would go into the Holy of Holies once a year with blood to offer for the sins of the people. Jesus did the same. He did not go into an earthly tabernacle but into heaven and the very presence of God for us. And Jesus did not bring the blood of animals, but He brought His own blood. And it was His blood that paid for our cleansing and the forgiveness of our sins. That is a serious thought. An amazing thought, and the reason we have such a better covenant. The blood of animals could never do what Jesus' blood did for us.
Because of the better sacrifice of Jesus. Because He took His own blood into heaven itself and the presence of God for us, we are so much better off. It's easier to see why the author of Hebrews was appealing to the Jewish believers not to turn back to Judaism. What they had in Jesus was a better sacrifice. Better blood. Taken to a better place to provide better cleansing and better forgiveness. Better, better, better.
APPLICATION
The more we realize what Jesus has done for us, the better off we are. We are forgiven and no longer have to live in condemnation. We are cleansed from our old sins, and no longer do we need to refer to ourselves as old sinners. We were old sinners, but now we are new creations. Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV says, "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
PRAYER
Thank You, Jesus, for Your better sacrifice. Thank You for what You did for me. I am eternally grateful.